• Bekker books US Open spot after ‘amazing turn of events’

    Oliver Bekker
    Bekker leads after day one

    What a few weeks it’s been for Sunshine Tour professional Oliver Bekker, who booked his place in the 117th US Open at Erin Hills via a sectional qualifier.

    Wins at the Zambia Sugar Open and Lombard Insurance Open helped Bekker inside the top 500 in the official world rankings, and thus eligible to enter the qualifier at Walton Heath Golf Club in England.

    ‘It’s been an amazing few weeks for me,’ Bekker told the Sunshine Tour website, after sealing his Major debut.

    ‘From winning, to getting married, to winning again. Now qualifying for the US Open. I can hardly believe it. It all started with a third-place finish in Zim.

    ‘That got me inside the top 500 on the Official World Golf Ranking again and made me eligible to enter the qualifier. It was three days before entries closed. So it was literally my last chance to get in. And here we are today. Amazing turn of events.’

    Bekker was one of four South Africans to qualify above the likes of Padraig Harrington, YE Yang and Nicolas Colsaerts.

    DID YOU READ: Which Saffas qualified for the US Open

    Photo: Luke Walker/Sunshine Tour/Gallo Images

     

    Article written by

    ×